Scope and Content

Scope and Content

Letter to Frederick Orpen Bower from James Montagu Frank
Drummond in which he tells Bower that it is a great relief to know the worst
[of the war] is over and that there will be an adequate return on the last four
and a half years of war. He states that in some ways he would have liked a more
complete victory over the Boche but concludes that perhaps it is better as it
is, "certainly the surrender of his [the Kaiser's] much vaunted navy could not
be improved upon as a humiliation." He tells Bower that his division was
supposed to go forward with the army of occupation but that they are unlikely
to move for some time. They are involved in education work and he is taking
four classes in German, 1 in arithmetic and is also to lecture on how to study
nature. He remarks that they are hampered by the lack of books. He discusses
his return to Glasgow, telling Bower that he is anxious to return and has heard
unofficially that there has been an application for him to the 5th battalion of
the Royal Scottish Fusiliers. He has not yet heard officially and encloses a
note containing all the information which might be needed by the University of
Glasgow if there is any delay (not attached). He does not expect to be among
the first to be released as men from essential industries will have priority.
He tells Bower that he will be glad to start teaching immediately and states
that he hopes his Jamaican specimens are still in good condition. He says that
he has noted Bower's suggestion regarding the specimens from the east and will
get to work on them as soon as he is back.